Lamb departs UConn for NBA Draft

Connecticut sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb has decided to forego his final two seasons of eligibility to make himself available for the NBA Draft.

Lamb helped the Huskies to the national championship as a freshman in the spring of 2011 and this past season averaged a team-best 17.7 points with 4.9 rebounds in 34 games.

"It was a difficult decision, but after much prayer and discussion with my parents, I feel that it's in the best interest of me and my family to declare myself eligible for the upcoming NBA Draft and pursue my dream of playing professional basketball," Lamb said in a statement on Tuesday. "I have very much enjoyed my two years at UConn, especially getting to experience one of the greatest feelings that a college player can have, winning the national championship."

Another reason for Lamb's departure could be UConn's ineligibility for next year's NCAA Tournament as the result of poor Academic Progress Rate performance.

Lamb became just the sixth sophomore to score 1,000 career points last year and was selected to the All-Big East First Team. His total of 1,060 points rank him 42nd in UConn history.

"It's never easy to lose a great player from your program, but Jeremy has a unique opportunity that he needs to take advantage of," said UConn coach Jim Calhoun. "He's been a great kid to coach for the past two years. His teams have won 52 games, been to two NCAA Tournaments, and won a national championship. I look forward to him developing into a terrific player in the NBA and secondly, as he's promised me, to come back and finish his degree."

Lamb will be the 14th UConn player under Calhoun to leave school early for the NBA Draft. All but one of the previous 13 were selected in the first round.